The Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) welcomed over 2,000 guests to their 17th annual Beauty Awards Product Demonstration at the Metropolitan Pavilion and Altman Building in New York City on March 9.

Nearly 350 top beauty brands showcased more than 600 innovative products, hoping to be one of the 155 beauty award finalists chosen across 26 categories. CEW partnered with the NPD Group to make sure each product was entered into the appropriate category.
“Being named a winner is a very high honor within the industry. Each product is entered because companies consider it their very best,” said Carlotta Jacobson, president of CEW. “This year we have seen the anti-aging skin care and mascara categories expand exponentially, as well as the tools and applicators category. We also noticed that the amount of prestige and mass products are nearly equal.”

The addition of the first-ever Eco Beauty Award, sponsored by Givaudan, recognizes companies’ efforts in the areas of sustainability.
“More than 40 companies submitted products to be considered for this award and we’ve announced 10 finalists,” said Jacobson. “We’re seeing more and more beauty brands focus on sustainability to offset environmental impact, and consumers think it’s important.”
The Indie Award recognizes independently-owned companies that are less than five years old, and received 26 entries this year. Hair care guru Living Proof was the winner in 2010.

“We love Indie brands and are seeing many more of them nowadays,” said Jacobson. “Small companies and big companies are all innovating in different ways and it’s important for people to see that.”

Over 4,000 CEW members vote to determine the finalists, and the CEW Board of Governors will select the winners, who will be announced at a star-studded luncheon on May 20 at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City.

CEW’s Carlotta Jacobson and Jill Scalamandre.

Coty’s Ruth Sutcliffe and Marsha Brooks
with Yara Karmiloff of Givaudan (c.).

Arcade Marketing’s Larry Berman and
Dave Teets (r.) with Alan Ennis and
Annette Falso of Revlon.

Macy’s Mary Kohatsu, Linda Levy and
Tasha Blackman.

CEI’s Justin Spiro, Givaudan’s Lauren Bitet and BlowPro’s Stuart Sklar with Tina Leeds of Coty Beauty and Joy Atkinson of Firmenich.

The Estée Lauder Companies’ Kathleen Pierce and Trenesa Stanford-Danuser.

Clarins USA’s Krista Mehlbach, Tanya Pushkine and Kathleen Maloney.

Bliss’ Mike Indursky and Katie Welch with Bruce Teitelbaum of The Royal Promotion Group (c.).

Beauty and Brains’ Rhona Stokols and Debra Holstein with Martha Basanta of Robertet.

Blue Sky Communications’ Morgan Henry
and Olivia Porcello with Laura Geller of
Laura Geller Beauty Ingenuity (c.).

Jacqueline Singer with Mark Knitowski of Victoria’s Secret Beauty.

NPD Group’s Judy Sone, Lori Monaco and Diane Nicholson.